Tourism and Mining to Go Side by Side
Big Stories, Destination Jul 5, 2010 The natural charm in the southern area of West Lombok, Sekotong, is never questioned anymore. If this area gets good management, it is possible for Sekotong to become the new main tourism destination after booming Senggigi.
The complication is, the development plan for this area is to become a Special Economic Zone (Kawasan Ekonomi Khusus – KEK) and gold mine, only causes the nature tourism image in Sekotong to increasingly vanish. The local government has an argument that this feature is able to be put side by side with the mining and nature tourism concept into one unity and suitable to be sold.
The natural panorama feature in Sekotong, especially the beach area, is similar to Senggigi in the early 80s. Just try to trace the coastline that extends out from Pelangan Village until Bangko-Bangko, West Sekotong. The tranquil waves and along with the extensive area of white sand really captivates our heart.
In the front of the beach, there are several gilis (small islands) that are no less interesting. The beach geography is very close to the mountains and divided by the curves of the road, has become an attraction for the investors to develop the main tourism area.
If the local government manages this area properly, Sekotong will become the “New Senggigi”.
Ironically, the local government plan is not focused on it. The charm of the Sekotong nature is losing competitiveness by the potency of mining the local mountain range. Sekotong has become the location of mine exploration by several large national companies. And from there it will be known, if Sekotong has a very promising gold deposit. “The amount of deposit of course we still keep secret,” the Head of West Lombok Mining Agency, Ahdiat Subiantoro said.
In fact, the community has already known about the deposit of gold in Sekotong that is concentrated in Pelangan, Buwun Mas, and Kedaro. From here then appeared illegal mining that began to blossom as of the last three years.
Thousands of people come from many areas in Indonesia, conduct mining without any responsibility towards environment reclamation. The local mountains are no longer green and shady with the trees now, but crowded with the plain tents that are owned by the miners to avoid the sun when they are mining.
The illegal gold mining activity is also risky in high environmental pollution. Right now in Sekotong, the spreading of chemical substances such as Mercury for the separation of rock and gold is out of control. The substance that is limited for the usage by the Laws is now easily found in the community houses that have gold grinding machines (for the processing).
The remnant of chemical process then flows into the wells, rivers and any places. The image of local tourism is pushed aside by the issues of environmental pollution.
The Local Government of West Lombok as the owner of the area is maintaining a considerable obsession behind the Sekotong potency. The nature tourism that is very promising and also the great potency of mining even more makes the local government give the impression of being “confused” to choose the priority. The Government finally declared the needs of Sekotong to become a Special Economic Zone (KEK). Later it will define that Sekotong has three main potencies: nature tourism, mining and fishing. KEK will also make us think that the mine and natural tourism can work together.
“No one said that the natural tourism and mine cannot be combined to be managed together,” the Regent of West Lombok, Zaini Arony said.
“No one said that the natural tourism and mine cannot be combined to be managed together,” the Regent of West Lombok, Zaini Arony said.
Over the course of time, the local government seems to have chosen the mine option. The Provincial Government too has agreed with the revision of the Regional Regulation number 11 year 2006 concerning the permit of Lombok Island as a mining area.
With great income a target, West Lombok now is very busy to manage any matters related to the mining administration in Jakarta. It is possible in the near future, Sekotong will look like Newmont mine in West Sumbawa.
With great income a target, West Lombok now is very busy to manage any matters related to the mining administration in Jakarta. It is possible in the near future, Sekotong will look like Newmont mine in West Sumbawa.
Together with the legislative party, the local government is also preparing the legal standards in the form of regional regulations concerning mining that has been applied recently.
What about the tourism option? It seems it is not yet clear. The development movement in order to support the speeding up of the tourism areas in Sekotong is not so very real. The reason is the local government now is busy to conduct tourism improvements in the Senggigi area.
And it seems like the Sekotong area will remain left “beautiful”, drowning by the gold glitter and the noise of grinding machines.
